2026 Justice Matters Alliance

The Justice Matters Alliance recognizes the outstanding contributions of Civil Legal Aid allies for all they do to further the work of SMRLS in serving the people of southern Minnesota. We are proud to welcome four new inductees in 2026.

Lilian Ejebe, Esq.

Lilian joined SMRLS in 1990 and devoted her career to protecting the rights of children. Over the decades, she has provided an estimated 60,000 hours of legal support to families, ensuring students receive the services and opportunities they need to thrive in school and access a fair, equitable education. The true impact of her work is immeasurable—countless children’s lives were changed, and generations to come will benefit as those students grow into adults and parents themselves. Lilian has been a fierce advocate, a gifted educator, and a generous mentor. Her commitment, skill, and heart have shaped our organization, and we are profoundly proud and grateful that she chose to share her talents with SMRLS.

Darren Schwiebert, Esq.

Darren, a trial lawyer with Briol & Benson, has co-counseled with SMRLS on multiple consumer cases over the past few years. With Darren’s help, many of our clients have been able to get inaccurate information deleted from their credit reports so that they are in a better position to find housing and employment. We have also recovered more than $60,000 in debt waived and/or cash payments directly to our clients!

Katie Hawkins, SMRLS Staff

Staff What distinguishes Katie is not the number of responsibilities she carries or how efficiently she completes them. It is how she approaches her work and the people around her. Whether she is coordinating volunteers, supporting colleagues, managing a complicated calendar, or screening a tenant who fears losing their home, she brings competence, steadiness, and respect to the task. Katie exemplifies SMRLS’ mission and guiding principles through her daily actions. Her dedication has made her invaluable and an essential part of our work expanding access to justice.

William Tilton, Esq.

Bill has been a very active volunteer with SMRLS who retired earlier this year. He began volunteering with SMRLS in 1986 and handled cases through 2025. Bill took on 81 cases throughout the years, providing a variety of legal assistance to our client community. He has also been a staunch supporter of SMRLS throughout the years and was a longtime member of the Campaign for Legal Aid Fundraising Committee.